The Cup Series caps off a triple header weekend of racing with the Quaker State 400 from Atlanta Motor Speedway and some Prime Time racing.

As a part of the pre-race ceremonies, car owner Richard Childress will drive the number 29 car on the pace laps to honour Kevin Harvick.  Harvick won his first Cup Series race at Atlanta after he was chosen to take over the driving duties of the RCR car after the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr.  Choosing not to continue in Earnhardt’s iconic number three car, Harvick drove the number 29 car during his RCR racing career.  Harvick won the race in just his third Cup Series start beating out Jeff Gordon.  Childress is not driving a replica car but the actual car that Harvick drove in 2001.

There was no practice this weekend by either series, the drivers just jumped right into qualifying.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Austin Hill with a time of 32.501 seconds around the mile and a half track.

There are no groups this week, just single car qualifying with the top 10 drivers moving on to a second round of qualifying for the pole.

In the Xfinity Series, none of the drivers broke the 32 second mark; Ty Dillon was the first driver to do so with a time of 31.877 seconds.

A total of 37 teams brought cars to Atlanta and they all will start the race.

Bubba Wallace reports that his steering wheel is off center and did not make a qualifying run.  Wallace said that he had felt something that he had never felt before and decided to bring the car in rather than tear up the car.  He noted that the crew knows what the issue is and they will address the issue.

Christopher Bell gets very loose on his qualifying run but manages to save the car.

Back in March the Fords dominated the field and they continue the practice this weekend with only two of the top 10 drivers not in a Ford.

Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
Joey Logano
Harrison Burton
Ty Gibbs
Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick
Todd Gilliland
Austin Cindric
and Kyle Larson will all move on to round two and a run for the pole.

Posting a time of 31.261 seconds Aric Almirola puts his number 10 car on the pole with Ryan Blaney alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Quaker State 400:
Aric Almirola
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
Joey Logano
Harrison Burton
Kevin Harvick
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Larson
Todd Gilliland
Austin Cindric
Brad Keselowski
Tyler Reddick
Ryan Preece
Denny Hamlin
Chris Buescher
Martin Truex Jr
Justin Haley
William Byron
AJ Allmendinger
Michael McDowell
Cole Custer
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
JJ Yeley
Erik Jones
Daniel Suarez
Ty Dillon
Corey LaJoie
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ross Chastain
Noah Gragson
Austin Hill
Austin Dillon
Christopher Bell
BJ McLeod
Alex Bowman
Bubba Wallace

Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace, and Justin Haley all failed pre-race inspection after qualifying twice; as a result, the drivers will lose a crew member for the remainder of the weekend and will lose their pit stall selections.

On Sunday afternoon, NASCAR ejected car chief Chris Sherwood for the number after some unapproved adjustments were made to the car which is driven by Christopher Bell.  Bell will have to start the race from the back of the field.

Stage one is 60 laps with stages two and three lasting 100 laps for a total of 260 laps around the mile and a half track.

From the drivers seat of the number 29 car, Richard Childress gave the command to start the engines.

Kevin Harvick pulls up to drive alongside Richard Childress in the number 29 car – the chassis in number 70 – the same car that Dale Earnhardt Sr drove to an Atlanta win in 2000 and Kevin Harvick drove to his first win in 2001.  Harvick edges out Jeff Gordon by inches.

This is race start number 809 for Kevin Harvick, tying him with Darrell Waltrip.

Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with Ryan Blaney alongside.  Joey Logano is pushing Aric Almirola who edges out for the lead with Logano in second; Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Harrison Burton round out the top five.

Lap five, Aric Almirola holds on to the lead with Joey Logano in second; Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Harrison Burton continue to round out the top five with some of the drivers back in the field working to make some moves.

Lap eight, since race start Bubba Wallace has moved up five spots to 31st.  Christopher Bell has moved up to 27th.

Lap 10, Aric Almirola continues to lead the race; the top five drivers are in a Ford.

Only half a second separates the top five drives.

Lapa 12 Aric Almirola holds on to a tenth of a second lead on Joey Logano.

Harrison Burton brings out the first caution flag on lap 17 when he spins out and gets into the inside wall.  He manages to avoid being hit by the other drives when he comes back down the track.  There is minimal damage to the car, just flat tires.  Burton is looking to get back into the race.

A few drivers come down pit road for service.

This weekend NASCAR has amended the pit road speeds.  Under green flag conditions pit road speeds are 90mph through the first two segments and 45mph throughout the rest of pit road.  Under caution conditions, pit road speeds are 45mph from pit open at turn three and pit exit.

William Byron reports that he is “having fun”.

Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 23 with Ryan Blaney alongside.  Kyle Larson is the only driver in the top six not in a Ford.

There is some possible bad weather on the way; the crews are telling the drivers to get as much as they can now.

After a bad pit stop, Kyle Busch restarts the race from the back of the field.

Lap 27, Aric Almirola has led every lap so far but Joey Loganois on his bumper; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell have entered the top 20; Kyle Busch has moved up to 27th; less than four seconds behind the leader.

Lap 31, Aric Almirola continues to lead the race with Joey Logano on his bumper; Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Last year’s winner Chase Elliott is in 16th place.

Lap 34, drivers at the front of the pack have gotten single file with Aric Almirola leading the way.

Joey Logano finally gets around Aric Almirola to take the lead on lap 40 but Almirola comes back to retake the lead.  Ryan Blaney pushed both drivers to the lead.

After a bad pit stop, Kyle Busch has moved up to 21st on lap 44.

Lap 45, Kyle Busch is in the top 20.

Lap 46, the top five are Aric Almirola, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 48, Joey Logano passes Aric Almirola for the lead.  Almirola comes up on the inside to try and retake the lead but could not do it and falls to fourth.

Lap 50, Joey Logano leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Kyle Larson, Aric Almirola, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

Tyler Reddick comes up on the outside by the wall to battle for position.  Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

Christopher Bell has entered the top five after starting the race from the back of the field.

Only seven laps remain in stage one; Joey Logano leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

Five to go in stage one, the drivers are getting aggressive and getting three wide as the stage winds down.

Kyle Larson battles Joey Logano for the lead with just three laps remaining in stage one.

Drivers are three wide.

Ryan Blaney passes Joey Logano for the lead.

Joey Logano and Kyle Larson battle for second.

Teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano battle for the lead.  Kyle Larson comes up to battle Ryan Blaney for the lead.

Ryan Blaney wins stage one for his third stage win.  He edged out Kyle Larson by just 28 thousandths of a second.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Austin Cindric
Michael McDowell
Tyler Reddick
Aric Almirola

The field, except for BJ McLeod and Ty Dillon, come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road.  Martin Truex Jr and Michael McDowell make contact coming off of pit road.  There is a lot of damage to McDowell’s car.

Denny Hamlin was charged with an equipment interference violation.  Christopher Bell was charged with leaving his pit box with equipment.  William Byron was charged with a safety violation.  BJ McLeod was caught speeding on pit road.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 67 with Ryan Blaney alongside.  Blaney edges out for the lead after getting a push from teammate Joey Logano.

Lap 68, the top five are Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, and Daniel Suarez.

Lap 70, Bubba Wallace has entered the top 10.

Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

Lap 72, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Joey Logano in second; Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

In stage one, there was not a great deal of movement in the front of the field.  In stage two with the threat of inclement weather, there is a great deal of movement among the drivers at the front of the field.

Lap 76, Ryan Blaney has the lead with Joey Logano in second; Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.

Several of the drivers are complaining of some very loose conditions.

William Byron brings out the caution flag on lap 80 when he gets sideways after contact from Corey LaJoie.  The carcass of his tire comes off on the track.

The safety violation on William Byron was a crew member leaned over the wall and put their hands on pit road.

Many of the drives come down pit road for service with Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and Martin Truex Jr among those who stayed out on the track.  Taking fuel only, Joey Logano wins the race off of pit road.

Tyler Reddick was charged with a crew member coming over the pit wall too soon.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart with Martin Truex Jr alongside.  Wallace and Truex battle side by side for the battle.

The field is in “organized two wide chaos” says Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Lap 88, Martin Truex Jr leads the race with Bubba Wallace in second; Joey Logano, Alex Bowman, and  Chris Buescher round out the top five.

Ty Gibbs gets into the wall but the track stays green.  Gibbs was squeezed off by Erik Jones.

Lap 90, Martin Truex Jr leads the race with Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman in a battle for second.

Chris Buescher comes up on the inside for third.

Kyle Larson brings out the caution flag on lap 93 when he spins out, sliding down the track sideways and sends the field scattering.  Austin Hill has sparks coming out of his car.  There is some damage to the right side of Larson’s car after a blown tire.

NASCAR has extended the “crash clock” to eight minutes for this race.

Chris Buescher is listed as the leader of the race.

Martin Truex Jr and Bubba Wallace come down pit road for service.  Chase Elliott makes another trip down pit road.

The top five are Chris Buescher, Justin Haley, Alex Bowman, AJ Allmendinger, and Joey Logano.

Chris Buescher brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 99 with Justin Haley alongside.  After getting a push, Justin Haley takes the lead but Chris Buescher comes up to battle for the lead.  The two drivers swap the lead back and forth with Chris Buescher getting out in front with AJ Allmendinger in second; Justin Haley, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Austin Hill is out of the race.  With the help of the “lucky dog” Harrison Burton is just one lap down; as is Kyle Larson.

Lap 103, Chris Buescher leads the race with AJ Allmendinger in second; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Lap 108, Chris Buescher has the lead with AJ Allmendinger in second; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.

Erik Jones tags the fence but the track stays green.

Most of the battles for position are in the second half of the field with the top 15 drivers single file.

Lap 111, Ty Gibbs and Ross Chastain keep making contact.

Austin Dillon gets slowed on the track but there are no cautions.

Lap 113, the front of the field is beginning to move with Chris Buescher leading the race; AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Cindric rounding out the top five.

Twelve laps remain in stage two and so far the track remains dry.

Lap 119, Chris Buescher leads the race with AJ Allmendinger in second; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.

Dale Earnhardt Jr noted that he hasn’t seen anything like this in NASCAR in a long time.

Kyle Larson has taken his car to the garage and is out of the race.

Lap 122, Joey Logano passes AJ Allmendinger for second. 

Corey LaJoie brings out the caution flag on lap 123 for a big wreck involving Ty Gibbs, Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr, Todd Gilliland, and Tyler Reddick.  Ross Chastain comes down pit road minus a tire.  LaJoie reports that the 43 of Erik Jones got into him.

Pit road is very busy with drivers looking to top off the fuel cell.  But the leaders stay out.

Chris Buescher brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 129 with Joey Logano alongside.  Getting help from his teammate Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano takes the lead but after a push from Austin Cindric, Chris Buescher gets back out in front.

Lap 130, the top five are Chris Buescher, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski.

Chris Buescher and Austin Cindric battle for the lead with Austin Cindric getting the lead after a push form Ryan Blaney.

The RFK cars have found each other and are working to take the lead.  Brad Keselowski and Austin Cindric battle for the lead.

Lap 135, the race is now official should the bad weather rain it out.

Austin Cindric and Brad Keselowski continue their battle for the lead.

Ryan Preece and Michael McDowell make contact but the they save the cars and the track stays green.

Lap 138, the battle for the lead continues between Austin Cindric and Brad Keseloski.  Martin Truex Jr is rim riding and has passed several cars over the past few laps.

Lap 140, Austin Cindric gets out in front for the lead with Brad Keselowski in second; Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Ross Chastain is out of the race.  Ty Gibbs is off the track.

Lap 142, Austin Cindric and Brad Keselowski are again in a battle for the lead.

Lap 144, Brad Keselowski takes the lead but Ryan Blaney comes up to battle for the lead.

Martin Truex Jr is now in second.

Ryan Blaney comes up on the outside to battle with Brad Keselowski for the lead.

Noah Gragson’s car is smoking.

Lap 146, Brad Keselowski has pulled out in front for the lead with Chris Buescher in  second, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top five.

Just seven laps remain in stage two, Brad Keselowski leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Chris Buescher, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.

Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin make contact and get into a wreck; bringing out the caution flag.  The crash is causing a lot of debris on the track and may be the end of stage two.  Christopher Bell was also involved.

Ending the stage on a yellow flag, Brad Keselowski wins stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Blaney
Chris Buescher
Austin Cindric
AJ Allmendinger
Bubba Wallace
Christopher Bell
Michael McDowell
Justin Haley
Ryan Preece

The top four drivers, Austin Cindric, and Joey Logano are all very low on fuel.

Drivers short on fuel come down pit road for service with many drivers staying out on the track anticipating rain very soon.

Out of the race, Kyle Larson says that the wreck was his fault.

AJ Allmendinger brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with 97 laps remaining in the race.  Michael McDwell gets out in front after a push from William Byron.

AJ Allmendinger comes back up to retake the lead.  Michael McDowell and William Byron battle for second.

Daniel Suarez gives William Byron a push and the lead.

The top five are William Byron, AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell, and Todd Gilliland.

Drivers are three wide through the field.

With 91 to go, William Byron has the lead with AJ Allmendinger and Daniel Suarez in a battle for second.  Kyle Busch is just outside the top five in sixth.

There are 89 laps to go and reports are that the rain is beginning to fall at the track.  William Byron is looking to become the first driver with four wins this season.

Kevin Harvick spins out after some contact from Denny Hamlin but gets off the racing surface and the track stays green.

Kyle Busch makes a big run up against the wall and takes fifth place.  Brad Keselowski passes Kyle Busch for fifth.

William Byron leads the race with Daniel Suarez on his bumper; Michael McDowell, AJ Allmendinger, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Kevin Harvick has made it to the pits. 

Michael McDowell is very low on fuel. 

Ryan Preece and Bubba Wallace bring out the caution flag with a crash.  Ricky Stenhouse Jr tags Ryan Preece who then gets into Bubba Wallace.

Reports are that there are rain drops around the track.

Michael McDowell is running very low on fuel.

With 75 laps remaining in the race, NASCAR brings the cars down pit road and throws the red flag.

About 10 minutes after NASCAR red flagged the race, it has been called due to rain with William Byron winning his fourth race of the season.  This is also the 2,000th win for Godyear Tires and a second special trophy is being presented to the winner to mark the occasion.

The unofficial results of the Quaker State 400:
William Byron
Daniel Suarez
AJ Allmendinger
Michael McDowell
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
JJ Yeley
Ryan Blaney
Justin Haley
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Erik Jones
Chris Buescher
Chase Elliott
Austin Cindric
Todd Gilliland
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Aric Almirola
Ty Dillon
Austin Dillon
BJ McLeod
Chase Briscoe
Christopher Bell
Ryan Preece
Bubba Wallace
Alex Bowman
Tyler Reddick
Harrison Burton
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Corey LaJoie
Cole Custer
Noah Gragson
Ty Gibbs
Ross Chastain
Kyle Larson
Austin Hill